Fixed ammunition for use on air-craft.



0. DAVIS. FIXED AMMUNITION FOR USE ON AIR CRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED D3115, 1913.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

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CLELAND DAVIS,

OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, ASSIGNOR TO ORDNANCE D EVELOP- MENT COMPANY, OF GROTON, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FIXED AMMUNITION FOR USE ON AIR-CRAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 191 1.

Original application filed July 7, 1913, Serial No. 7713783. Divided and this application filed December 5,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLELAND-DAvis, commander, United States Navy, a citizen of the United States, residing atVVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fixed Ammunition for Use on Air-Craft; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to improvements in fixed ammunition intended to be fired from air craft, and the object of the invention is to provide fixed ammunition intended to be fired from a gun with the bore open at both "ends, and so arranged that when the projectile flies toward the muzzle of the gun, a compensating mass will be projected rearward through the breech of the gun, thus causing a balancing of the longitudinal strains on the gun, and thereby eliminating all shock of recoil. The radial pressure of the powder gases will, or course, be balanced by opposite sides of the bore, so that with .a gun and projectile of this construction, there will be practically no shock of recoil, and the gun may be mounted on a light mount and conveniently carried by an aeroplane, or other air craft.

The present invention is especially intended to be used with guns of the character shown in my application, entitled apparatus for firing projectiles from aeroplanes, filed November 21, 1911, Serial No. 661566, and my other application also entitled apparatus for firing projectiles from air craft, filed July 7 1913, Serial No. 777763, of which this application is a division.

My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same parts are indicated by the same reference symbols throughout the sev-.

eral views. Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through the gun body and breech block,

with the projectile in elevation in the bore,

and shows diagrammatically the electric firing circuit; Fig. 2 shows'on a larger scale the complete projectile as detached from the gun, part being in elevation and part in central vertical section; and Fig. 3 shows a Serial No. 804,919..

section through the portion of the cartridge case and gun adjacent to the primer and electric firing pin.

A represents the gun body, and B the breech'block with the bore open rearward throughout, these parts being similar to those fully illustrated and described in my application, Serial No. 777763, filed July 7, 1913, aforesaid. These parts will, therefore, not be further described herein.

C represents the projectile, D the housing for the electric firing pin, E the electric circuit, and F the primer.

1 represents the cartridge case which is open at the rear, and is provided with the rim 8 to engage the extractor. Near its front, the cartridge case is crimped, as at 3, into a groove of the projectile The projectile may be of any desired form. In rear of the projectile is the propelling charge 4, in rear of which are one or more wads of felt, or other suitable material, and in rear of which is the countersunk weight 6, preferably composed of fine disintegratable material, such as birdshot, sand, or the like,

which is held in place in the rear by one or more wads 7 I preferably use for this counter weight material that will be disintegrated upon leaving the gun, so as to avoid injury to other aiu-crr in rear, or to persons on the ground in rear of the air craft, but it will be obvious that the rear end'of the cartridge case may be equipped with a projectile similar to that at its forward end, should it be desired to fire shots in both directions.

In order to ignite the propelling charge, I provide an annular groove 11, pressed into the circumference of the cartridge case over the powder chamber of the projectile, and in his groove is mounted a continuous metal band 12, the said ring being insulated from the body of the cartridge case by the insulating material 13. The outer surface of this band is countersunk below the corresponding cylindrical surface of the car tridge case, so that it would be separated all around from the bore of the gun by an air space, thus normally insulating the band from the bore of the gun.

For convenience of assembly, I provide a metal plug 12 screwed into said ring above the opening in the cartridge case for the primer F, see Fig. 3. This primer F comprises the shell 14;, in which is mounted the insulated rod 15 electrically connected by the plug 12 to the ring 12, and terminating in the usual firing tip 16 which projects into the igniting charge 17 in the primer. The ring 12 is normally in electrical connection with the electric firing pin 18 under the action of the spring 19. The firing pin is mounted in, but insulated from, the stock D which is screwed into a lug a attached to the barrel A;

The electric firing pin 18 is connected by the conductor 20 and a switch e to one terminal of the source of electricity E, while the other terminal of said source is connected to any partof the gun mount, so that when the switch 6 is closed, the electric circuit will be complete through the primer, provided, of course, that the projectile is in the proper place with the pin 18 in contact with any part of the ring 12. By having thering depressed and adapted to register with the firing pin, the projectile is shoved home. It will be immaterial what may be the angular position of the projectile relative to the bore, but the projectile cannot be fired until it is shoved home.

The switch 6 may be operated by the trigger; and the usual electric cut-out would, of course, be provided in the electric circuit to revent said circuit from v being closed until the breech block is in the closed and locked position.

Since the walls of the bore would protect the cartridge case against radial distention, it will be obvious that the same cartridge case may be used over and over again, inserting, of course, a new fuse. Instead of having the rear of the cartridge case closed by the wads 7, itmight be made of thinner or frangible material, or provided with a weakening groove, and the end of the cartridge case adapted to blowout when the gun is fired; but I prefer a wad of felt, or other similar material, for closing the rear end of the cartridge case.

It will be obvious that various modifica-.

tions might be made in the herein described device, and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention,

what I claim and desire to secure by Let-' ters Patent of the United States is 1. Fixed ammunition for use in a gun having its bore open both at the breech and muzzle, comprising a cartridge case open at the rear, a projectile secured in the forward end of said cartridge case, a propelling charge mounted in rear of saidprojectile, one or more wads in rear of said propelling charge, a counter weight mounted in rear of said wad or wads, and one or more end of said cartridge case, a propelling" charge mounted in rear of said projectile, one or more wads in rear of saidpropelling charge, a counter weight composed of disintegratable material mounted in the rear of said wad or wads, and one or more wads closing the rear end of'the cartridge caseand normally holding said counter weight in position, substantially as described.

3. Fixed ammunition for use in a gun having its bore open both at the breech and muzzle, comprising a cartridge case open at the rear, a projectile secured in the forward end of said cartridge case, a propelling charge mounted in rear of said projectile,-

one or more wads in rear of said propelling charge, a counter weight composed of fine solid particles adapted to be dispersed when the gun is fired mounted in the rear of said wad or wads, and one or more wads closing the rear end of the cartridge case and normally holding said counter weightin position, substantially as described. 7 1

4:. Fixed, ammunition for use in a gun having its bore open both at the breech and muzzle, comprising a cartridge case open at the rear, a projectile secured in the forward end of said cartridge case, a propelling charge mounted in rear of said projectlle, one or more wads in rear of said propelling charge, a counter weight mounted in the rear of said wad or wads, and one or more Wads closing the rear end of the cartridge case and normally holding said counter Weight in position, with means for firing said propelling charge when desired, substantially as described.

5. Fixed ammunition for use in a gun having its bore open both at the breech and muzzle, comprising a cartridge case open at the rear, a projectile secured in the forward the rear, a projectile secured in the forward end of said cartridge case, a propelllng charge mounted in rear of said projectile,

one or more wads in rear of said propelling the rear, a projectile secured in the forward 1 end of said cartridge case,- a propelling charge mounted in rear of-said projectile, one or more wads in rear of said propelling charge, a counter weight mounted in the rear of said wad or wads, and one or more wads closing the rear end of the cartridge case and' normally holding said. counter weight in position, with means for firing said propelling charge when desired,"said means comprising an insulated metal ring mounted over said propelling charge, and an" electric primer projecting into said propelling charge and electrically connected to said ring, substantially as described.

8. Fixed ammunition for use in a gun having its bore open both at the breech and muzzle, comprising a cartridge case open at g the rear, a projectile secured in the'forward end of said .cartridge case, a propelling charge mounted in rear of said projectile, one or more wads in rear of said propelling charge, a counter weight composed of dis; integratable material mounted in the rear of said wad orwads, and one or more wads closing the rear end of the cartridge case and normally holding said counter. weight in position, with means for firing said propelling charge when desired, said means comprising an insulated metal ring mounted over said propelling charge, and an electric charge and electr cally connected tosai ring, substantially as described.

9. Fixed ammunition for ,use in a gun having its bore open both at the breech and muzzle, comprising 'a cartridge case open at the rear, a projectile secured in the forward end of said cartridge case, a propelling charge mounted in rear of said projectile, one or more wads in rear of said propelling charge, a counter weight composed of fine solid particles adapted to be dispersed when the gun is fired mounted in the rear of said wad or wads, and one or more wads closing the rear end of the cartridge case and normally holding said counter weight in posiprimer pro ecting into said propelling tion, with means for firing said propelling ing c/harge when desired, said means comprisan insulated metal ring'mounted over said propelling charge, and an electric. primer projecting into said propelling charge and electrically connected to said. ring, substantially as described.

10. Fixed ammunition for use in a gun having its'bore' open both at the breech and muzzle, comprising-a cartridge case, a projectile secured in the forward end of'said cartridge case, a propelling charge mounted in rear of said projectile, one or more wads in'rear of said propelling charge, a counter weight mountedin the rear of said wad or wads, and means removable under low pressure for closing the rear end ofthe cartridge case and normally holding said counter weight" in position, substantially 'as described.

11. Fixed ammunition for usezin a gun having its boreopen both at the breech and muzzle, comprisinga cartridge case, a projectile secured in the forward end of said cartridge case, a propelling charge mounted in rear of said projectile, one or more wads in rear of said propelling charge, a counter weight composed of disintegratable ,material mounted in the rear of said wad or wads, and means removable under low pres-- sure for closing the rear end of the cartridge case and normally holding said counter weight in position, substantially as described. I a

12. Fixed ammunition for use in a gun having 1t bore open both at the breech and muzzle, comprising a cartridge case, a projectile secured in the forward end of said cartridge'case, a propelling charge mounted in rear of said projectile, one

or more wads in rear of said propelling charge, a counter weight com osed of fine solid particles adapted to e dispersed when the gun is fired mounted inthe rear of said wad o'r wads, and means removable under low pressure for closing the rear end of the cartridge case and normally holding. said counter weight in position, substantially as described. i

13. Fixed ammunition for use in a gun having its bore open both at thebreech and muzzle,lcomprising a cartridge case, a projectile secured in the forward end of said cartridge case, a propelling charge mounted in rear of said projectile, one or more wads in rear of said propelling charge, a counter weight mounted in the rear of said 'wad or wads, and'means removable under low pressure forclosing the rear end of the cartridge case and normally holding said counter weight in position, With means for firing said propelling charge, when desired, substantially as described.

14. Fixed ammunition for use in a gun having its bore open both at the breech and muzzle, comprising a cartridge case, a pro jectile secured in the forward end of said cartridge case a propelling charge mounted in rear of said projectile, one or more wads in rear of said propelling charge, a counter" weight composed of disint'egratable material mounted in the rear of said wad or wads, and means removable under low pressure for closing the rear end of *the cartridge case and normally holding said counter weight in position, with means for firing said propelling charge when desired, substantially as described.

- 15. Fixed ammunition for use in a gun having its bore open both at the breech and muzzle, comprising a cartridge case, a projectile secured in the forward end of said cartridge case, a propellingcharge mounted in rear of said projectile, one or more wads in rear of said propelling charge, acounter weightcomposed of fine 'solidparticles adapted to be dispersed when the gun is fired mounted in the rear of said wad or wads, and means removable under low pressure for closing the rear end of the cartridge case and normally holding said counter weight in position, with means for firing-- said propelling charge when desired, substantially as described. a

'16. Fixed ammunition for use in' a gun" having its bore open both at the breech and muzzle, comprising a cartridge case, 'a projectile secured in the forward end of said cartridge case, a propelling charge mounted in rear of said projectile, one or more wads in rear of said propelling charge, a counter weight mounted in the rear of said wad or wads, and means removable under low pressure for closing the rear end of the cartridge case and normally holding said counter weight in position, with means for firing said propelling charge when desired, said means comprlsing an insulated metal ring mounted over said propelling charge, and an electric primer projecting intosaid propelling charge and electrically connected to said ring, substantially as described.

17. Fixed ammunition for use in a gun having its bore open both at the breech and muzzle, comprising aca-rtridge case, a projectile secured in the forward end of said cartridge case, a propelling charge mounted in rear of said projectile, one or more wads in rear of said propellingcharge, a counter weight-composed of disintegratable material mounted in the rear of said wad or wads,

and means removable under low pressure for closing the rear end of. the cartridge case and normally holding said counter weight in position, with means for firing said propelling charge when desired, said means comprising an insulated metal ring mounted over sa1d propelling charge, and an electric primer projecting into said propellin'g charge and ele'ctricallyconnected to said ring, substantially as described, I

v18. Fixed ammunition for use in a gun having its bore open both at the breech and muzzle, comprising a cartridge case, a projectile secured in the forward end of said cartridge case, a propelling charge mounted in rear of said projectile, one or more wads in rear of said propelling charge, a counter weight composed of fine solid particles adapted to -be' dispersed when the gun is fired mounted in the rear of said wad or -wads, and means removable --under low pressure for closing the rear end of the cartridge case and normally holding said counter Weight in position, with means for firing said propelling charge when desired, said means comprising anins'ulated metal ring mounted over sa1d propelling charge, and an electric primer pro ectin into said propelling charge and electrically connected to said ring, substantially as described. v

In-testimony whereof, I afiix my slgnature, in presence of two witnesses.

OLELAND Davis. Witnesses:

ERNEST WILKINSON, M. L. BENZLER. 

